The Lib Dems and Labour have finally agreed to form a coalition to run South Gloucestershire Council.
Talks have lasted two weeks between the two groups who both made gains at this month’s local elections, and the deadlock was broken on Friday afternoon (19th May 2023).
The alliance will replace the Conservatives who were in power since 2015 but lost their overall majority at the polls on Thursday 4th May, although they remain the largest single group with 23 councillors compared with 20 Liberal Democrats and 17 Labour members.
Lib Dem group leader Cllr Claire Young will become council leader and her Labour counterpart Cllr Ian Boulton will be the authority’s co-leader, with both positions to be confirmed at a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday 24th May (see below).
The Tories have branded the deal “the worst of all worlds” and claim it will result in higher costs and poorer public services.
Labour and Lib Dems say their agreement includes a shared focus on the climate emergency and helping residents with the cost-of-living crisis.
They will also review how the council forms and passes policy, including local area decision making and greater public involvement.
The two groups will share the South Gloucestershire seat at the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) with commitments to improve local buses and the travel network.
After signing the written agreement to form an administration, Cllr Young said:
“People voted for change in May, following eight years of Conservative rule..”
“In discussions with the Labour group it was apparent we had many shared goals to improve the lives of local people..”
“We want to take the council in a different direction, working with local people to make South Gloucestershire a better place for everyone.”
Cllr Boulton said:
“This is a brilliant opportunity to put forward a new vision for South Gloucestershire.”
“We’re aware of the budgetary challenges at the moment, with the Conservative government failing to fund local authorities properly.”
“That can change at next year’s general election.”
Conservative group leader Cllr Sam Bromiley said:
“We are disappointed that Labour and the Liberal Democrats have chosen to exclude the largest party from all discussions on how to run the council.”
“This agreement represents the worst of all worlds for South Glos.”
“It is an unstable coalition between two parties neither of which has the best interests of residents in mind and both of which have a track record of poor decision making.”
“While Labour and the Lib Dems have been locked away from the public making these secret backroom deals, we have been out speaking to residents about the issues that matter to them.”
“We will work hard to ensure we don’t see our residents’ council tax pumped into Labour-run Bristol to prop up their buses while our local services are cancelled by the Labour Weca mayor [Dan Norris].”
“The coalition must also be focused on protecting our greenbelt and precious green spaces, maintaining our record recycling rates and continuing our achievement of improving school standards.”
The Lib Dems gained three seats at the local elections, with Labour up by six and the Tories losing ten, while one independent was elected.
Together the two coalition groups have 37 of the 61 councillors, taking them beyond the 31 required for a majority.
The council’s AGM will be held in the Council Chamber at Kingswood Civic Centre, at 7pm on Wednesday 24th May 2023. Agenda details and information on how to view the meeting online, are available on the council website at https://bit.ly/3It6Zh7
✍️ Article by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
